Looking Out The Window: Love Inspired Author Jennifer Slattery Talks About Her New Book, Building A Family. Gives Away A Copy.

A Warm Welcome to Jennifer Slattery

Jennifer will give away a print copy of Building a Family (U.S. Residents Only). To enter to win leave a comment and an email address below.

Hi Jennifer, first, tell us a little about yourself.

Oh, boy. This is a loaded question. So, do you want to know the strange, the hilarious, the boring and mundane …

I’m a mama and wife. I feel like those are my favorite realities. My daughter just got married this spring, and I’ve really enjoyed watching her and her husband grow. I feel like I’ve now got two kiddos to love on, and my heart is full! I write, serve in various capacities, drink way too much coffee (or perhaps I should say, heavily flavored almond milk seasoned with coffee), have a severe ice cream addiction, and love to read almost any genre that exists. And I love to podcast.

Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what did you read?

I had an obsession with Shakespeare for a while. I’m not sure why, except perhaps due to an honors English teacher that made the subject fun. Oh, the discussions we had! I also loved the classics, for the same reason. I loved considering what themes and messages the author might’ve intended. A Tale of Two Cities really stuck with me. I also liked short stories.

Why do you write?

I’m not sure I can answer that except to say it’s a compulsion. Like I can’t not write. I did receive a clear call, years ago, so I write to serve Christ, for sure. But writing also provides self-care. It fulfills me and brings me joy, and while sometimes the assignment will feel frustrating and hard, it still gives me a spark to jump out of bed each morning and a sense of excitement that helps fuel my day. Plus, my work, whatever I happen to be working on at the time, leads to wonderful conversations with Christ as I seek His creativity, thank Him for a plot solution or opportunity, and ask for His guiding presence.

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest release is about an interior designer who learns her drug-addicted sister abandoned her children, the heroine’s niece and nephew, and infant and toddler respectively. They’re currently in the care of their biological father’s brother, a former bull rider and partier the heroine does not trust to watch over them. Determined to see that they’re well-cared for, she catches the next earliest flight and heads to Sage Creek to evaluate what’s going on and, if need be, take the children back to Northern Washington with her.

Their uncle is not compliant and in fact determined to see that the children stay with him, in their home town, where they have community support and ready access to their paternal grandparents. The two, hero and heroine, both want what’s best for the children and have no intention of falling for the person that could steal the kids from them. But we all know how rebellious our hearts can be. ;)

What inspired you to write this particular book?

Our family did foster care for a while, and during our classes, we met a woman in a somewhat similar predicament as my heroine. Her sister had basically abandoned her kids for drugs. It was hard to see the woman’s pain (the one caring for the kids), but it was also a joy to see her joy. She did such a great job with those children! And of course, they were absolutely adorable.

I wondered what might happen if an aunt and uncle both found themselves in a similar predicament and felt they had to fight not only the neglectful parent but also one another—while fighting to keep their hearts in line.

What do you love about this book? And what do you hope readers will tell others about it?

I’ve fallen in love with Sage Creek, Texas, the fiction city this story is set in and the deep community ties nurtured there. The people are so quick to help one another out and really treat fellow residents like family. I think we all need that sense of community. I hope readers will seek that out, and maybe even play a part in creating it in their neighborhoods and circles.

How do you get to know your characters?

This takes time. I ask a lot of questions, brainstorm, make lists and charts and find pictures to fit the images in my head.

What themes do you write about?

Romance, faith, and community.

What is your writing schedule and where do you write?

I write whenever I can wherever I can, but I’m most comfortable in my office. My husband purchased an amazing chair for me about five years ago. I have chronic pain, and this chair really helps decrease that, so I try to spend most of my writing time sitting in it.

Do you have to juggle writing with a job, family responsibilities or other obligations? I f so, how do you balance it?

My job is all writing related, though I do a variety of things. I podcast for Life Audio (owned by Salem Web Communications), write articles and create short video devotions for iBelieve, and write romance novels for Love Inspired. I also lead a parachurch women’s ministry. As far as balancing, I delegate whenever I can, prioritize and guard my writing time, and also make sure to save time for family. We do tend to plan ahead, which helps.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t quit and learn to prioritize and guard your writing time. You must treat it like a career long before you receive your first contract. There will always be numerous reasons to talk yourself out of writing; don’t entertain them. Instead, hold tight to all the reasons you should be writing.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Not that I can think of. Except maybe, feel free to send chocolate. All the chocolate. Haha. And maybe tell me your favorite snack food. I just might try it during my next deadline.

About Building a Family

Can love for two little matchmakers unite their reluctant hearts?

Worried that Noah Williams is still the reckless bull rider she remembers, Kayla Fisher is convinced he isn’t the right person to care for their orphaned niece and nephew. Now she’s back home, determined to fight for custody. But Noah is a changed man, and he intends to prove it. When Noah and Kayla start falling for each other, could raising the children together be the perfect solution?

Buy it on Amazon

Bio: Jennifer Slattery is a writer and national speaker who has addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. She hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and maintains devotional blogs found at Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud and on Crosswalk. As the founder of Wholly Love Ministries she and her team partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram , and Twitter. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Contact her through her website to book her for your next women’s event.